Seems like Seattleites prefer parking spaces to parklets

Who wants a parklet?

Apparently not enough people as the Seattle Department of Transportation decided to extend the deadline for the parklet and streatery application period.

There are currently six parklet locations in Seattle with another nine in the works. Parklets are public spaces meant to establish a small park-like setting in what once was a parking space.

Streateries are a new option, part of a pilot program that allow restaurants to set up outdoor café space in what used to be a parking space, with the streatery reverting to a public parklet in off-business hours.

The original deadline for applications to build a parklet or streatery was Friday March 20, but SDOT has extended the deadline to March 30 hoping to get more applications in.

SDOT director Scott Kubly wasn’t sure of the exact number of applications received, but told KIRO Radio’s Jason Rantz it was around a couple dozen.

“We want to make sure as folks learn more about it, that they have a little bit of time,” said Kubly. “I don’t see any issue with extending it.”

SDOT indicated it would be selecting up to 15 applications for streatery locations for the pilot program.

But with only a couple dozen applications for parklets and streateries, is that not an indication that the people of Seattle might prefer parking spots to parklets?

Kubly said the parklets aren’t being forced on anyone.

“We’re not going in and saying we’re going to take away one of your parking spaces and we’re going to put a parklet or a streatery here,” Kubly said. “It’s being driven by the people that live in that neighborhood one, and then two, it’s being driven by the market. So if the business says, you know what, it’s more important for us to have a parking space here than a parklet or a streatery, that’s fine.”

Judging by the low number of applications, is that the message they should be hearing?